U.S. Open Womens Draw

The USTA announced that world No. 1 and two-time defending US Open champion Serena Williams has been named the top seed in women’s singles at the 2014 US Open. The 2014 US Open will be played Aug. 25 – Sept. 8 at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing.

This is the third time that Serena Williams has been the No. 1 seed at the US Open. She won the title on both prior occasions (2002 and 2013). Following Williams will be No. 2 seed Simona Halep, of Romania, a 2014 French Open finalist; No. 3 Petra Kvitova, of the Czech Republic, who won her second Wimbledon title this summer; and No. 4 Agnieszka Radwanska, of Poland. The reigning French Open and 2006 US Open champion Maria Sharapova is seeded fifth.

World No. 2 Li Na, of China, withdrew from the US Open in July with a knee injury.

Victoria Azarenka, of Belarus, who has reached the US Open women’s final each of the last two years, is seeded No. 16. Two-time US Open champion Venus Williams is seeded No. 19, 2004 champion Svetlana Kuznetsova, of Russia, is seeded 20th, and 2011 champion Samantha Stosur is seeded 24th.

Last year, Serena Williams won her fifth US Open singles title, tying Steffi Graf for second most in the Open Era, trailing only Chris Evert’s six. It was also Williams’ 17th Grand Slam singles title, which is sixth on the all-time list and fourth in the Open Era (since 1968), trailing Graf (22), Evert and Martina Navratilova (18 each).

Elizabeth Johnson is former editor of Manhasset Press and Manhasset Press Magazine. Growing up in nearby Garden City and attending New York University, she is well-versed in the locale and knowledgeable about the beat she covers. Her community involvement is extensive and includes the Manhasset SCA, Kiwanis International, Manhasset Chamber of Commerce, St. Mary’s Church, and various civic and local charitable organizations.
Curious by nature, her travels, community service, love of the arts as well as local sports give her the inside view to unique content. During her time at Anton, she has received several awards from the New York Press Association and the Press Club of LI, including the coveted "Best Community Newspaper" several years in a row.